Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

Our paper focuses on the threats to the global development and sustainable economic development of a country that might include economic, political, human development, as well as sustainable development issues and problems. Sustainable economic development might serve as a tool for fostering the country’s prosperity and helping it to overcome various threats that might stem from its geolocation, economic situation, natural resources, as well as many other internal and external factors that all play their decisive roles. The paper uses a case study of the United States as an example of the country vulnerable to a plethora of threats. It analyzes the most crucial threats one by one and classifies the most notorious and impending issues stemming from these threats that might hamper the economic growth and development. In particular, we focus on the issue of energy security and the renewable energy sources (RES) that represent an important aspect in this debate and research. Our results can be used by the policymakers as well as regional development managers for improving the security strategy.

The paper is devoted to the empiric assessment of social-economic security of administrative areas in Latvian municipalities. A generalized integral index of social-economic development of the territory of municipalities has been elaborated. This index was used to carry out the assessment of the level of social-economic security of Latvian municipalities in 2011 and in 2015 in order to identify priorities for the strategy of social-economic security.

The issue of attracting investments is one of the key issues in modern society. The global experience shows that sustainable economic development and growth are determined by the volume and structure of investments. Therefore, the study into the investment environment where the investment activity happens – the investment climate, is becoming increasingly relevant. The prerequisites for the study into the investment climate have been formed since the Keynesian economic theory; studies into the investment climate have become widely spread in modern economic theories. Starting with the Keynesian economic theory and until modern theories of investments, the factors that influence the investment climate can be divided into two groups: investment potential and investment security of the region. According to the outcomes of the factor analysis of Latvia’s regions (Riga, Pieriga, Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, and Latgale regions), Lithuania’s regions (Vilnius, Alytus, Utena, Panevezys, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Marijampole, Taurage, Telsiai, Sauliai counties), and Belarus’ regions (Vitebsk, Grodno, Mogilev, Minsk, Gomel, and Brest oblasts, and Minsk city), the factor of socioeconomic security is adeterminant of regional differences in the investment climate.

In last two decades, several authors have already proven the existence of positive relationship between generalized trust and macroeconomic growth and this paper queues up providing the evidence based on more recent data. An analysis of sustainability of the macroeconomic growth is also very important for prediction of economic development. However, the main aim of the paper is to analyse how the impact of trust on macroeconomic growth changes upon time, trying to find the answer how fast can changes in trust and other determinants be visible in changes in economic growth of countries. For this purpose, we introduced the dynamic aspect into the “Barro-type” regression growth models used by our predecessors. We can conclude, that trust is the most dynamic growth determinant, with the impact visible after 5 years. The paper also confirmed that the higher the initial level of GDP per capita (in terms of constancy of other variables in the model), the greater the decline in the growth rate. The high level of trust also allows better implementation of effective organizational innovation and knowledge transfer within the organization, since trust is also active through the channel of building the common good.

Circular economy conception is a result of development of sustainability. Since 1987, when the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) has developed and published the document “Our Common Future”, numerous institutions monitor sustainable development (SD) at global, national or regional level. Recently The European Commission adopted a Circular Economy Package, which consists of an EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy that establishes a concrete programme of action, with measures covering the whole cycle and sets out the timeline when the actions will be complete. This paper analyses and tries to answer a question about what should be taking into account setting circular economy indicators.

The presented paper aims to discuss new Lithuania’s in role taking presidency of the EU and to evaluate Lithuania’s development process. State of Lithuanian economy is being presented; aims of further development are identified. The context of other European countries is being taken into account. Authors rely on critical analysis of contemporary scientific literature and comparative statistics. Among driving forces affecting process of economic development investments of foreign origin and increasing level of education are being distinguished. Insights considering a role of the latter driving forces are being offered.

On May 1st, 2004, Poland and 9 other countries became members of the European Union. The new economic and institutional conditions resulting from this event had a tremendous impact on Poland’s macroeconomic performance. Poland is the biggest beneficiary of the European Cohesion Policy in 2007-2013. This paper aims at evaluating the scope and strength of cohesion policy’s impact on the macroeconomic situation of Poland. Authors attempt to assess the economic benefits of Poland’s membership in the EU (focusing particularly on those related to impact of the cohesion policy’s implementation). Additionally, the article presents the benefits derived by the EU-15 countries from the implementation of the cohesion policy in Poland. Authors focus, inter alia, on assessing the impact of Poland’s membership in the European Union on macroeconomic situation of the country. The assessment of the said impact is based both on the analysis of selected studies of the subject and on authors’ own research based on available statistical data. Within such a context, authors discuss the results of three research projects – commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Regional Development – which attempt to evaluate the impact of the EU cohesion policy on selected macroeconomic indicators.